Image recording apparatus

Abstract

An image recording apparatus according to the invention has a nozzle plate having a nozzle hole for ejecting ink, a wiper blade for cleaning the nozzle plate, a blade holder holding the wiper blade, and a wiper base containing and holding the blade holder. When the wiper blade abuts on the nozzle plate, the blade holder is held and inclined in the wiper base so that the wiper blade follows the nozzle plate.

1 . An image recording apparatus comprising:
 a nozzle plate having a nozzle hole to eject ink;   a wiper blade for cleaning the nozzle plate;   a blade holder for holding the wiper blade; and   a wiper base which contains the blade holder, and holds the blade holder,   wherein when the wiper blade abuts on the nozzle plate, the blade holder is held in the wiper base to be inclinable in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the wiper blade cleans the nozzle plate.   
   
   
       2 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a support unit for supporting the blade holder in the wiper base,
 wherein the blade holder is rotated, rotating the wiper blade about the support unit with respect to the wiper base.   
   
   
       3 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the support unit has a support shaft which is inserted into a through hole formed in the blade holder, and supports the blade holder, and
 both ends of the support shaft are held by the wiper base, and the blade holder is rotated about the support shaft with respect to the wiper base.   
   
   
       4 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the support unit has a support shaft formed in the blade holder, and support shaft is held by the wiper base, and the blade holder is rotatable about the support shaft with respect to the wiper base. 
   
   
       5 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the wiper base is provided with a through hole to hold the support shaft, a part of the through hole has an aperture with the width smaller than the diameter of the support shaft, and the support shaft is removable through the aperture. 
   
   
       6 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the wiper base is provided with a through hole to hold the support shaft, a part of the through hole has an aperture with the width smaller than the diameter of the support shaft, and the support shaft is removable through the aperture. 
   
   
       7 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the support shaft is arranged substantially parallel to a direction in which the cleaning of the nozzle plate proceeds. 
   
   
       8 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the support shaft is arranged substantially parallel to a direction in which the cleaning of the nozzle plate proceeds. 
   
   
       9 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the support unit has a depression formed spherical on both sides of the blade holder, and a projection formed spherical in the wiper base at a position corresponding to the depression of the blade holder; and the blade holder is rotated about a position where the projection and depression are fit to each other with respect to the wiper base, by fitting the projection of the wiper base into the depression of the blade holder. 
   
   
       10 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the support unit has a projection formed spherical on both sides of the blade holder, and a depression formed spherical in the wiper base at a position corresponding to the projection of the blade holder; and the blade holder is rotated about a position where the projection and depression are fit to each other with respect to the wiper base, by fitting the projection of the blade holder into the depression of the wiper base. 
   
   
       11 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the support unit has a triangular depression formed on that side of the blade holder which is opposite to the side to hold the wiper blade, and a triangular projection formed in the wiper base at a position corresponding to the triangular depression; and the blade holder is rotated about a position where the projection and depression are pressed to the wiper base, by placing the depression of the blade holder on the projection of the wiper base. 
   
   
       12 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the center angle β of the triangular depression formed in the blade holder and the center angle γ of the triangular projection formed in the wiper base are set to β>γ. 
   
   
       13 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the support unit has a triangular projection formed on the side of the blade holder opposite to the side to hold the wiper blade, and a triangular depression formed on the wiper base at a position corresponding to the triangular projection; and the blade holder is rotated about a position where the projection and depression are pressed the wiper base, by placing the projection of the blade holder on the depression of the wiper base. 
   
   
       14 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the center angle γ of the triangular projection formed in the blade holder and the center angle β of the triangular depression formed in the wiper base are set to β>γ. 
   
   
       15 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the ridgeline of the projection or the bottom of the depression extends substantially parallel to a direction in which the cleaning of the nozzle plate proceeds. 
   
   
       16 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the ridge of the projection and the bottom of the depression extend substantially parallel to a direction in which the cleaning of the nozzle plate proceeds. 
   
   
       17 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a through hole formed in the wiper base, and a leaf spring whose one end is fixed to the blade holder and the other end is fixed to the wiper base through the through hole,
 wherein the blade holder is tilted in the thickness direction of the leaf spring with respect to the wiper base so that the wipe blade follows the nozzle plate.   
   
   
       18 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the blade holder has a slope with an arbitrary inclination to the plane orthogonal to the nozzle plate, and holds the wiper blade on the slope. 
   
   
       19 . The image recording apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the slope is inclined so that an angle defined by the wiper blade and the nozzle plate being cleaned is larger than 0° and smaller than 90°. 
   
   
       20 . An image recording apparatus comprising:
 a nozzle plate having a nozzle hole to eject ink;   a wiper blade having a through hole for cleaning the nozzle plate;   a support shaft inserted in the through and supporting the wiper blade; and   a wiper base to hold the support shaft,   wherein when the wiper blade abuts on the nozzle plate, the wiper blade is rotated about the support shaft with respect to the wiper base, following the nozzle plate surface and rotating in a direction substantially at right angles to the direction in which the cleaning of the nozzle plate proceeds.